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Guidelines and FAQ for the Submission of New Ideas

Guidelines and FAQ for the Submission of New Ideas

Guidelines for the Submission of New Ideas

Several suggested areas:

New cognitive concepts and research methods in the humanities

New disciplines and fields of scholarship

New artistic and literary movements

New models of social and professional behavior

New spiritual practices and movements

New methodological principles and metaphysical systems

Theory of everyday life

Alternative cultures and civilizations

Possible worlds

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What makes the Repository different from other websites in the humanities?

A. Its interdisciplinary orientation, which does not imply dilettantism or disregard of intellectual rigor and responsibility, but accentuates new ideas rather than professional erudition.

Q. How will the novelty of my idea be recognized?

A. Unlike the technical disciplines, there are no patents for new ideas in the humanities. The Repository provides authors with the best possible certificate: the date of your submission is automatically registered and indicates your priority.

Q. Are there any restrictions on the number of submissions?

A. No. You are invited to deposit as many ideas as you can produce and want to share.

Examples of unacceptable ideas: (a) “Writer X borrowed this motif from writer Y, . . . ” (b) “The results of this social poll show that . . . “; (c). “The following mistakes can be found in the monograph of Z . . . ”

The most desirable ideas are constructive rather than critical and cross-disciplinary rather than monodisciplinary.

Q. Can I deposit an idea that was already published in another form (book, article, conference paper)?

A. Yes, you can, if this idea is presented in a condensed form and meets the criteria of originality. However, it is recommended that you use this unique space for ideas that have had no opportunity to be publicized in a more traditional manner.

Q. Is there a copyright for the ideas submitted to the Bank?

A. The authors of new ideas retain the copyright for their submissions (texts) and can use them as they find appropriate.

Q. Can I cite in my work passages from the materials collected in the Repository?

A. Yes, you can. References to the source, its author and the Repository are obligatory.

Criteria for the discussion and evaluation of new ideas

The humanities, as compared with natural and social sciences, remain in a vulnerable methodological position as the very criteria for identifying and evaluating new ideas are unclear and virtually never discussed. We are suggesting, in a provisional form, the following criteria for an evaluation of a new idea:

Unexpectedness–the capacity to amaze, to disrupt theoretical paradigms and established patterns of thought.

Originality–innovativeness, the extent to which the idea differs from others previously put forth in its field.

Verifiability–the extent to which the idea is convincing in the light of available facts as well as its logical development from the foundations it proposes.

Expressiveness and aesthetic properties of the idea–the inner harmony of its components and levels of argumentation, the proportionality of deductive and inductive elements, its plasticity and clarity, accessibility to intellectual contemplation.

Breadth and scope–the volume of material embraced and interpreted by the idea, the range of its repercussions and theoretical generalizations.

Productivity–the heuristic potential of the idea to influence intellectual development in areas beyond its own material and disciplinary boundaries.

Realizability–the practical measure of the idea, as applied to its specific contents and contexts; the possibility of its actualization on various levels of intellectual and social life.

Nothing unites one mind with another better than a flash of a new idea. Some ideas may well prove faulty, but the same rule should apply in the sphere of knowledge that applies in justice. It is better to acquit ten guilty people than to convict one innocent. It is better to voice ten faulty ideas than to silence a single true one. Furthermore, it is likely that there are no faulty ideas, just more and less productive ones.